Electrical conduit system



Oct. 22,1935 H. w. HARTMAN ET AL 2,918,303

ELECTRICAL CONDUIT SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Aug. 22, 1933 1am: F Brown Oct. 22, 1935. H. w. HARTMAN ET AL I ELECTRICAL CONDUIT SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 22, 1933 r Z I 1 00.0% /i Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL CONDUIT SYSTEM Howard W. Hartman, South Williamsport, and James F. Brown, Williamsport, Pa.; said Brown assignor to said Hartman 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical conduit systems, and the present application is a division of our application Serial No. 686,294, filed August 22, 1933.

An object is to furnish means to permit the running of various circuits parallel with and adjacent to the system, the whole forming a compact unitary construction.

A further object is to provide means for running various circuits parallel with and adjacent to the system in methods known as surface, concealed, or a novel combination of both.

A still further object is to supply metal trim in which'circuits may be concealed, such trim being made up mainly of standard metal stampings, so as to permit of various arrangements to accommodate baseboards, panels, wainscots, etc.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, i1- lustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partly perspective and partly sectional view of a concealed channel wire race way to accommodate a conduit system and designed for panel, trim or Wainscot.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View of a double channel confronting plate which may be substituted for the single channel plate shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an apertured plate which may be used with such race way where a heavier conduit box might be inadvisable or prohibited.

Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Fig. 1 but showing race ways designed for baseboards or trim.

In the concealed channel wire race ways with flush and surface confronting or cover plates designed to accommodate a conduit system, the structure in Figs. 1 and 2, has been designed for panel, trim or Wainscot, while the ones shown in Figs. 4 and 5 will accommodate baseboards or trim as shown. The advantages of these arrangements will be readily appreciated as the combinations shown are readily built from standardized channel irons, the differences residing mainly in the configuration of the confronting or cover plates.

In Fig. l the main or intermediate channel I00 of the raceway has a rear web IN, a top wing I02 and a bottom wing I03, and each wing projects forwardly and terminates in an L-shaped flange I04 which is apertured at spaced points 35 for a purpose hereinafter described.

Arranged above and below the intermediate channel are upper" and lower raceway channels respectively numbered m6 and It]. These channels are identical in construction but the upper one has its short wing Ifit at the bottom while the lower one has its short wing Iil uppermost. These short wings are secured to the wings of the channel I013 by any suitable means such as rivets HQ. The long wings of the channels I06 and I0'I terminate in flanges HI designed to interlock with hook shaped extremities H2 at one edge of flush confronting or cover plates H3. Each of these plates may have an inwardly extending channel IM to receive a conductor element or connector units not shown. Each plate I I3 has spaced lugs H5 at its opposite extremity to snap into the apertures I05 under the influence of the resiliency of the metal of which the plate I i3 is formed. 7

Another confronting or cover plate H6 is designed to close the mouth of the intermediate channel and this plate may also be provided with a channel I II to accommodate our conductor system. The opposite edges of the plate H6 has spaced lugs H8 designed to snap into some of the apertures I05 of the flanges or wings I03, I04 of the intermediate channel for the purpose of detachably locking the plate H6 in position. Obviously the various channels in the rear of the confronting plates can accommodate conductor cables and insulated wires, and by arranging an aperture in the web IOI of the main channel, a conventional outlet box I20 may be connected to the main channel by means of screws IZI or the like. Holes I22 provided at intervals in both wings of the channel I 013 permit tapping the running wires in the channels I06, I07 adjacent to the central channel.

Of course, the raceway channels I00, I06, and I0'I are arranged in a wall or similar structure In Fig. 2 we have illustrated a confronting or cover late I23 which may be used in place of the plate I6. In this instance the plate has two channels I24 and I25 instead of the single channel l I! shown in Fig. 1.

An apertured plate I26 (Fig. 3) may be used in place of an outlet box where such box might be inadvisable or prohibitive.

In Fig. 4 the structure is similar to that of Fig. 1 with the exception that the lower channel I01 and its confronting or cover plate II3 are wings of the main channel I30, and the lower portion I3I of the confronting plate may be inclined downwardly and inwardly so as to snugly engage the inclined surface I32 of a baseboard I33 or the like.

The structure shownin Fig. 5 is also similar to that of 1 with the exception that the upper channel I 556 and its confronting plate II3 are omitted, and special confronting plates I34 and I35 are provided for the central channel I36 and the lower channel I31. In this instance the upper edgeportion of the plate I 34 has upwardly extending lugs I38 to interlock with the apertures in the upper edge I39 of the main channel, and the lower edge portion of this plate has downwardly extending lugs hill to interlock with the apertures in the lower edge I4I of the main channel.

The plate I35 in this embodiment has a hookshaped part I 42' at its lower edge to hook over the flange of the lower channel and its upper edge has lugs I 43 to enter the apertures in the flange I4I of the main channel.

When the race way system is originally installed, or at any future time, circuits may be run in the race ways and used to feed electric outlets, such as side brackets, switche ceiling lights,

etc. and fished in the walls and partitions by concealed methods. In the concealed channel race ways as described the cover can be lank over space that may or may not have the conductor channel, and which perhaps is not being used for the conductor system. In metal race ways the rear channel may be grounded in the field, and the confronting plate forming a continuous surface is automatically grounded. Blank cover pieces can be used to cover the face of the race ways when partitions are to be set at right angles to walls, such as when changing oflice partitions to suit different tenants. Obviously in the race way system the confronting plate may be furnished to conform to any scheme of interior decoration. In the race ways the space that the conduit system does not occupy, can be used and also sectionalized for different carrying systems. Apertures may be used in the confronting plate at any desired point which the system may require.

While we have disclosed what we now consider to be some preferred embodiment of the invention we are aware that changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the claims.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a structure of the character described, a

main channel provided with forwardly projecting legs, each leg terminating in an apertured flange,

a second channel arranged in superposed relation with respect to the main channel and having a short leg secured to one leg of the main channel, the second channel also having a long leg terminating in a flange, a flush confronting plate having one of its edges of hook-shape and engaging the last mentioned flange, the opposite edge of the confronting plate being provided with spaced lugs which are interlocked with one of the legs of the main channel, and another surface confronting plate having edge portions provided with projecting lugs detachably interlocked with the flanges of the main channel.

2. In a structure of the character described, a main channel provided with forwardly projecting legs, each leg terminating in an apertured flange, a second channel arranged in superposed relation with respect to the main channel and having a short leg secured to one leg of the main channel, the second channel also having a long leg terminating in a flange, a flush confronting plate having one of its edges of hook-shape and engag-i 7 ing the last mentioned flange, the opposite edge of the confronting plate being provided with spaced lugs which are interlocked with one of the legs on the main channel, and another surface confronting plate having edge portions provided with projecting lugs detachably interlocked with the flanges of the main channel, one of said plates being provided with a channel to receive a conduit system. a

3. In an outlet system for electrical conduits, a wall, metallic raceways concealed in the wall, cover plates covering said raceways and forming with the latter flush and surface conduit channels, and means for interlocking each of said plates to its respective raceway.

4. In an outlet system for electrical conduits, a wall, metallic raceways concealed in said wall, cover plates covering said raceways and forming with said raceways flush and surface channels, each of said plates having resilient legs extending inthe same general direction and detachably interlocked with its respective raceway. 1 v

5. In an outlet system forelectrical conduits a wall, metallic raceways concealed in said wall and having forwardly extending flanges, cover plates covering said raceways and forming with the latter flush and surface conduit channels, each of said plates having resilient legs extending rearwardly and detachably interlocked with the flanges of its respective raceway.

6. In an outlet system for electrical conduits,,a

wall, a metallic raceway concealed in said wall 65.

HOWARD w. HARTMAN, JAMES F. BROWN. 

